There are so many touching, poignant images published during a day of remembrance such as Memorial Day, that I find it very difficult not to share them.
To those who have already seen and read enough about this solemn day, I ask for your forbearance.
All the photos and captions are from various military Services.
A soldier places a small American flag into the ground in front of a headstone during “Flags In” at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 21, 2015. During the annual tradition before Memorial Day, soldiers assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” place small American flags next to 228,000 headstones. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven Hitchcock
Soldiers perform the changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 25, 2015.
Destiny Flynn visits the grave of her husband, Marine Corps Special Operations Staff Sgt. Liam Flynn, with their daughter, 1-year-old Leilani, ahead of Memorial Day. Liam, 34, who survived four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, died March 10 when the UH-60 Blackhawk he was in crashed in thick fog during a training exercise in Florida. Six other Marines and four Louisiana National Guard members died with him. Photo by Kevin O’Brien
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Leilani Flynn plays by the grave of her father, Marine Corps Special Operations Staff Sgt. Liam Flynn, as her mother watches in the background. Photo by Kevin O’Brien
Wounded warrior Romulo Camargo, a retired Army chief warrant officer, and his family listen to the 26th National Memorial Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., May 24, 2015. The concert included musical performances, documentary footage and dramatic readings to honor the fallen and comfort the grieving.
Jason Thomas, 6, plays mandolin with the help of Army Master Sgt. John Lamirande of the during an event for family members from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors at the Pentagon, May 22, 2015. Lamirande is a member of the U.S. Army Field Band’s Six String Soldiers. DoD photo by EJ Hersom
Brittany, left, and her son, Christian, 4, visit the grave of her husband and his father, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Christopher Jacobs, on Memorial Day in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 25, 2015. Christian is wearing his father’s cover.
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Chelsea Shields helps lower the flag during a Memorial Day retreat ceremony on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, May 25, 2015. Shields is assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.